Tube type container



March 11, 1952 L. c. BROOKS 2,539,045

TUBE TYPE CONTAINER Filed April 16, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l March 11, 1952 c. BROOKS 2,539,045

TUBE TYPE CONTAINER Filed April 16, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 LEI/v25 CBFUUK'E March 11, 1952 c. BROOKS 2,589,045

TUBE TYPE CONTAINER Filed April 16, 1947 4 Sheets-Shet 4 LEM/25 1 WE Patented Mar. 11, 1952 TUBE TYPE CONTAINER Lewis 0. Brooks, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor of one-third to Ira Milton Jones, River 'Hills, Wis.

ApplicationApril '16, 1947,'Serial No. 741,904

This invention relates to containers made of flexible material, such as fiber, plastics, and thin sheet metal, and has particular reference to consumer containers of the. type used for household commoditiesa-nd foods.

Heretofore, there has been nosatisfactory fiber container which may be formedfrom a'single sheet blank and which is capable of holding liquids, powders orifrozen foods 'withoutleakage of the-contents. itself or at least. its moisture content. a

The: conventional one-piece carton structure. having four. closure flaps at each end, oneextending from each side wall, is an unsatisfactory container for liquids and powders because, of inadequate sealing of its closure flaps. It is only whensuch containers are filled withsubstantially solid contents that anything approaching a good seal can be accomplished, for it is obvious that a sift-proof or liquid-proof seal can be approximated'at the end closures of such cartons only in the-presence of an internal support against whichapressure may be applied to the mating flaps to bond them together satisfactorily.

Thisdisadvantage' is particularly important in connection with containers forfrozen food products, which must not only be leak -proof and siftproof, but must also be water-vapor-penetration proof in order thattheir contents will'be' protected against dehydration at low refrigerating temperatures. It has herefore been customary tame a triple carton for frozen foods. The frozen: food contents are first wrapped in an inner'cellophane bag, and this is placed in an ordinary cardboard container. Since the container cannot .be sealed satisfactorily, an outer waxed wrapper is provided to hold it shut and to provideadditional insurance against dehydration.

,The. outer waxed wrapper, however, gives the container an unsightly appearance, especially under refrigerating temperatures, thus reducing sales appeal; and the necessity for usingthree separate wrappers entails considerable expense foitlabor, materials, and packaging.

One means for obtaining a satisfactory seal resides in the use of a carton formed from two ormore blanks, such as that described inthe patent to Lewis C. Brooks, dated April 16, 1946, No. 2,398,404.

From the standpoint of cost and convenience, however. a container .iormedfrom. more than one blank is highly undesirable, as separate dies are required foreach blank and the cost of the complete cartonbecomes proportionately. higher with the increase in the number of its component parts.

2 Claims. (01. 229 37) vMoreover, when a container is not shipped as a single unit there is always the possibility that one of its component parts will be lost, damaged or delayed in shipment between the manufacturer and the packer, so that the part which does arrive is useless. Also, the cost of using such a carton is higher than that for one formed from a single sheet blank, since special machinery is required to seal the carton and extra labor is required to handle the extra parts.

Such one-piece, consumer containers as have been devised are likewise unsatisfactory. Anexample of acne-piece container suitable for packaging fluids is found in the patent to Jacob H. Strack, dated September 21, 1943, No. 2,329,797. Containers produced in accordance with designs such as this have been found in practice to include a small .but uneconomical percentage of leakers, and, what is of greater importance, the container exemplified in-the patent to Strack embodies a sloping roof-like top which makes stacking of the filled containers extremely difficult,.if not impossible.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a one-piece container suitable for packaging all varieties ,of consumer goods including liquids, powders and the like, that will have fiat end closures to permit convenient stacking of filled containers.

Another and very important object of this in-- vention resides in the provision of a container made from a single sheet blank of fibrous material, which is especially adapted to'the packaging of frozen food products and which eliminates the requirement for additional inner or outer 'wrappings to prevent undesirable vapor penetration.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of an inexpensive one-piece container for liquids, powders and other dry foods, which may be filled and sealed with extremely simple packaging machinery and which will be leakproof and sift-proof when so sealed.

A furtherobject of this invention resides in the provision .of a container of the .characterdescribed which maybe made from relatively light stock and which will have. unusually high structural strength.

It is another object of this invention to provide a one-piece container blankhaving a nearly rectangular outline, with littleorfno. material wasted in cutouts, which may be formedziupinto a flatsided leakroof, and sift proofcontainer.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a container or the character described wherein the single sheet blank from which the container is formed may have a thermoplastic substance applied thereto which will at once seal the fibers of the blank against undesired interpenetrations and provide a bonding adhesive whereby adjacent overlapping surfaces of the container may be permanently secured to one another by the application of heat and pressure to them.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a one-piece container of the character described in which one of the end closures is provided with a readily openable pouring tab that may be rescaled by the application of pressure thereto.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate several complete examples of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed according to the best modes so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a general purpose container constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention and provided with a readily openable pouring tab;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the top portion of the container depicted in Figure 1 before sealing of the top cover;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the single sheet blank from which the container shown in Figure 1 is formed;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the Figure 3 blank partially folded and in the process of being formed into the container depicted in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the top portion of a container similar to that depicted in Figure 1 but havinga modified type of dispensing tab, and shown with the upper end closure flap open;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of another container embodying the principles of this invention and having end closure supporting shoulders running completely around the upper end of the container body; 7

Figure 7 is a plan view of the single sheet blank from which the container shown in Figure 6 is formed;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the Figure '7 blank partially folded and in the process of being formed into the container depicted in Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a container embodyin the. principles of this invention and particularly'adapted to the packaging of frozen food'products; and.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the container depictedin Figure 9, partly unfolded, to illustrate themanner in which the frozen foods are quickly removable from the package.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 designates the body of a fiat-sided paper or fiber container having pairs of rectangular side walls 6 and I. For maximum economy of materials, two opposite sides 6 may be made somewhat wider than the other two'sides 7,.as is the case in the container illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, although if desired the a square container such as illustrated in Figure 5. The entire container is formed from a single sheet blank 8, appropriately cut and scored to provide similar pairs of side wall forming panels 9 and I0 corresponding to the body sides 6 and 1 respectively, a glue flap II, shoulder and reinforcing strips l2, I3 and I4, and end closure flaps I5 and [6 on one of the end panels of the blank. The panels extend in a row across the medial portion of the blank, with a narrow panel 9 alternating with a wider one I0 if it is desired to have the width of the box greater than its depth. The panels are defined from one another and from the glue flap II by parallel score lines I! which enable the blank to be folded to form a tube of rectangular'cross section (see Figure 4). The glue fiap II is hinged by one of the score lines [1 along the side of one of the panels at the end of the row thereof and is adapted to be secured to the side edge portion l8 of the panel at the opposite end of the row of panels'to hold the body tube assembled.

The series of shoulder forming strips I 2, l3 and I4 lie adjacent to the ends of the side wall form'- ing panels and in fact constitute extensions of all but one end panel, in this case the panel l0, extending in the direction of the score linesl'l. These shoulder and reinforcing strips preferably extend continuously across the three remaining side wall forming panels and are defined from one another and from the side forming panels by spaced'score lines [9, 20 and 2| which are perpendicular to the score lines [1 defining the side wall panels from one another. The innermost score lines [9 define the top and bottom ends of the panels in the finished container.

The innermost shoulder forming strips I2 form closure supporting ledges 22 at the opposite ends of the assembled container, being folded in the fiat at right angles to the side wall forming pan'els along the score lines [9. The intermediate strips |3 are folded downwardly on the score lines 20 beneath and at an angle to the shoulders 22 to form truss supports 23, and the outermost strips M are folded on the score lines 2| to lie flatwise against the inner surface of the body side walls for securement thereto to form anchor strips 24 for the truss shoulders. j

Kite-shaped cutouts 25 between the two panels 9 form, in effect, mitered corners when the shoulder strips are folded and permitthe blankto be bent up into tubular shape after the closure sup.- porting ledges or shoulders are produced in the flat. The inner edges 26 of these cutouts. extending from the intersection of score lines I! and l 9 to score line 20, must be at right angles to one another and at a 45 degree angle to the scores I! so that the ends of the cover supporting ledges 22 will abut one another closely."

Preferably, however, the outer edges 21 of the cutouts 25 converge from the score lines 20 to a point on the score lines I! intermediate score lines 20 and 2|. The ends of the intermediate strips l3 will thus be caused to crowd into the corners of the container beneath the ledges122 when the body of the container is folded into tubularform thereby forming a secure seal at the corners of the shoulder truss supports 23.

Inthe Figure 3 blank, the open ends, of the shoulder forming strips, when folded, are'perfectly square, and are adapted to abut the rear wall of the container. To provide a good seat at this point, insuring against the entry of liquid contents of the container into the hollow interior of the ledge 22. an area 40 at each of the inner cornersor tneside wall forming panel I which forms the-rearcontainer wall may be coated with any suitable thermo plastic adhesive to provide for permanent sealing of the open ends of the flap lies adjacent-to the inner ends of the shoulder forming strips in the blank and is defined from them by a slit or cut 3| in line with the adjacent score H. The cuts 3| enable the end closure flaps to be folded along the score lines 29, independently of the shoulder forming panels, to have their free edge portions overlie the closure supporting ledge 22 for securement thereto.

To assure completeoclosure of the ends of the container by the flaps l5 and [6, it will be noted that their length in the direction of the score lines I! must be at least equal to the width of the panels 9 which form the opposite side walls of the container.

A dispensing or pouring tab 32 may be provided in one of the end closure flaps IE to permit ready access to the contents of the container. This tab may take a variety of forms. For ex ample, it may be substantially rectangular, as shown in Figures 1. to 4 inclusive, or triangular, as shown at32' in Figure 5.

The rectangular dispensing tab 32 is formed by making a pair of side cuts 33 in the top flap 5, parallel to the opposite side edges thereof and spaced inwardly from said edges a distance less than the width of the closure suporting ledge strip I2. The cuts extend from the free front edge 36 of the flap rearwardly toward the hinge score 29 a distance determined by the size of the dispensing opening desired, and .the inner endsv of the cuts 33 are connected by ascore line 34 parallel to the score line 29.

When the end closure fiap I6 is bent downwardly along'the score line 29 onto the ledge 22, the free marginal edge portions of both the flap itself and of the tab portion will overlie and receive support from the closure supporting ledge 22, so that the tab as well as the flap may be sealed to the ledge in one operation.

' The fiaps l5 and l 6 maybe secured in position sealing the ends of the container by any suitable adhesive. One type of adhesive which may be used to advantage is a synthetic wax initially activated to adhesiveness by the application of heat and pressure to establish a seal between the flap and the ledge 22, the effectiveness of which increases with the heat and pressure applied. Sufiicient heat and pressure must be employed, however, to seal the tab 32 against accidental opening, but the tab must not be adhered so securely as to interfere with intentional opening thereof. This synthetic wax is also desirable in formed in the end closure flap I6 by making only a single cut 33 parallelto one of the free side edges 30 of the flap and spaced inwardly-therefrom a distance less than the width of the closure supporting ledge 22, as shown in Figure 5. A score line 34', extending fromfthe inner end of the cut 33 to the free front edge "36 .of the closure flap, permits the flap to belifted upwardly into dispensing position, producing a triangular dispensingopening at one of the front corners of the container. As-in the case of the rectangular dispensing tab, the free edges of both the end closure flap and the triangular. tab are secured to the closure supporting .ledge 22 when the end closure is sealed, andthoughnot essential, a strip of glassine or Scotch tape may also be secured over the cut 33 if. desired as an additional safeguard against leakage.

In some applications it may be desirable to have the end closure supporting shoulder extend around all four sides of the container, as shown in Figure 6, either to obtain theadvantages of a more secure end closure seal or the greater rigidity which this feature provides. This may be readily accomplished by providing the blank with an additional side wall forming panel. I0 equal in width to the panel In having the flaps l5 and I6 thereon, but at the opposite end of the row of panels, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. The shoulder forming strips [2, I3 and M are extended integrally across the ends of the extra panel I0 and the necessary cutouts 25 and 25 must then be provided to enable the adjoining ends of the fourth shoulder to abut the others-smoothly.

As will be seen by reference to Figure 7, the panel H] from which the end closure flaps extend completely overlaps the fifth panel Ill at the opp-osite end of theblank when the container is assembled. The flfth panel thus may take the place of a glue flap, although a flap ll may be provided if desired to secure right angle bonding. The fifth panel also adds considerably to the rigidity of the finished container inasmuch as it produces a double rear wall on the container.

The blank depicted in Figure 7 is intended to be formed up into a square container having four sides of equal width. The width of the anchor strip 14 is entirely optional, butis preferably such that its outer edge will align with the outer edge 36 of the end closure flaps, so that the blank will be substantially rectangular, thus affording maximum economy in the use. of materials. As will be seen by comparing the blanks shown in Figures 3 and 7, the anchor strip will then be relatively wider in the case ofthe square container since the end closure flaps l5 and I6 extend outwardly farther from the side forming panel Ill. The disadvantage entailed in this use of extra material, however, may in some instances be outweighed by the additional rigidity imparted to the container by the wideanchor strips, and in fact the additional reinforcing achieved allows the container to be made from lighter stock.

In instances where the closure flaps l5 and it are hinged to one of the narrow panels of a container having a rectangular cross section, as for. instance one of the side walls 1 in the Figure 2 container, it is possible that the'increased length of both the flap and shoulder strips will result in a double wall construction by reason of the anchor'strips extending inwardly toward each other to practically meet at the center of the carton. When this feature is combined with the extra panel feature previously described.

7 it will be apparent that all of the side walls of the container will have double thickness, allowing paper stock of relatively lightweight to be used.

A container constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention and particularly designed for packaging frozen food products is shown in Figures 9 and 10. The blank from which this container is formed is cut to an almost exactly rectangular shape similar to the blank of Figure 3, and scored in much the same manner. Before.foldup however, a suitable thermoplastic material is applied, preferably to both sides of the blank, to seal the same against undesirable vapor penetration. This thermoplastic material may be applied in sheets, or as a coating, and has such characteristics as to form a bond between overlapping-layers of the blank when heat and pressure are applied thereto.

Microcrystalline wax is a very satisfactory agent for this purpose, and meets the additional requirement of being inert in the presence of most of the products which night conceivably be packaged in containers of the type with which this invention is concerned. When dipped in such molten wax, so as to provide a coating thereof on all surfaces of the blank, no other adhesive is required in the forming up of the carton, including the sealing of the closure flaps.

Assembly of the container blank so coated is extremely simple as each step in the folding process brings various overlapping surfaces adjacent to one another, heat and pressure are simultaneously applied to them to bond the same together.

Since frozen food products are generally frozen into a single solid mass, no dispensing tab is provided on the frozen food container. Instead, relatively narrow extensions 31 on the free front ends of the closure flaps may be provided if desired to facilitate opening of the package. These extensions are folded down over the front wall of the container and may either be free to be readily grasped to pull the flaps open, or they may be bonded to the front wall of the container in the manner described. In this latter instance, a knife blade or the finger nail may be readily inserted under them to facilitate unseal ing of the container; for access to its contents, and the glue flap l I is lifted in the same manner. Hence, the entire container may be easily unwrapped from the solidly frozen contents.

It is to be understood, of course, that the tenacity of the bond afforded by the microcrystalline wax is controlled as by the addition of paraflin thereto to enable the container to be securely sealed against accidental opening but to readily enable unwrapping of the package for access to its contents.

The permanence of the bond when thermoplastics other than microcrystalline wax are employed, may of course, be governed by controlling the heat and pressure through which the bond is established.

The frozen food package of this invention not only eliminates the expensive inner and outer wrappings hitherto employed together with a paper board container, but has the advantage that it is better suited to fast freezing of the products packaged therein. Also, the substantial reinforcing afforded by the truss shoulders at the opposite ends of the container permit the same to be made from very thin stock such as a heavy paper rather than fiber or paper board.

From the foregoing description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that the container of this invention is unique in that it has rigid reinforcing means at its ends to receive and support the end closures of the container, yet is made from a single sheet blank of relatively lightweight flexible material.

I claim:

1. A consumer type container made from a single blank of flexible sheet material cut and scored to provide a tubular body substantially rectangular in cross section, characterized by: inwardly directed substantially rigid supporting ledges flush with the opposite ends of the body sides and substantially perpendicular thereto, said ledges extending around three sides of the body, a single cover flap at each end of the body, integral with the fourth side thereof, and foldable so as to seat on said ledges to completely close the opposite ends of the container, and further characterized by the provision in one of said cover flaps of a tab foldable out of the plane thereof along a score on said cover flap so positioned that the free'edge portions of the tab seat on the adjacent ledge.

2. A consumer type container made from a single blank of flexible sheet material cut and scored to provide a tubular body substantially rectangular in cross section, characterizedfby: inwardly directed substantially rigid supporting ledges flush with the opposite ends of the body sides and substantially perpendicular thereto, said ledges extending around three sidesof the body, a single cover flap at each end of the body, integral with the fourth side thereof, and foldable so as to seat on said ledges to completely close the opposite ends of the container, and further characterized by the provision in one of said cover flaps of a tab foldable out of the plane thereof along a score on said cover flap' so positioned that the free edge portions of the tab seat on portions of the ledge adjacent thereto for releasable securement to said ledge portions; means substantially permanently securing said cover flaps, except the free edges of said tab,'to said ledges; and means for releasably securing the free edges of said tab to said ledge portions.

LEWIS C. BROOKS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 616,869 Haas Dec. 27, 1898 1,581,921 Doble Apr. 20, 1926 2,173,871 Zalkind Sept.'26, 1939 2,341,845 Mark et al. Feb. 15, 1944 2,349,605 Becker May 23, 1944 2,398,404 Brooks Apr. 16. 1946 2,398,405 Brooks Apr. 16, 1946 2,409,460 Waters Oct. 15, 1946 2,415,387 Graebner et al Feb. 4, 1947 

